Anjem Choudary banned from France amid burka law anger

Women in France can be fined or jailed for wearing a burka in public under tough new laws that come into force today.

Ban: Anjem Choudary Picture: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

The controversial legislation led to protests in Paris at the weekend that resulted in 61 arrests, including 19 women wearing full face veils.

The British Muslim radical Anjem Choudary, head of the outlawed Islam4UK, was turned away from the demonstrations and banned from setting foot in France again.

The law makes it illegal for anyone to wear clothes designed to hide their face in public. If caught, women face a fine of £130 and can be sent for ‘citizenship lessons’. But men who force women to wear a burka can be fined up to £25,000. Repeat offenders can be jailed.

Police have been told not to unveil women in public. But Denis Jacob, of the French police union Alliance, said: ‘I think the police have more important work to do than going burka-chasing.’ Last year, al-Qaeda threatened an attack if the ban became law.